Democrats Square Off to Face Kirk

Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias (D) released an internal poll today that shows Mr. Giannoulias leading Congressman Mark Kirk (the favorite to be the GOP’s nominee) by three points (46-43).

The Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research poll also shows Giannnoulias’ main competition for the Democratic nomination, Chicago Inspector General David Hoffman, trailing Kirk by the considerable margin of 48-39.

The Giannoulias campaign probably released the poll in order to make the case that Giannoulias is better placed to defeat Rep. Kirk in the general election than the lesser known Hoffman, who is also vying for the Democratic nomination.

This comes on the heels of Kirk’s press conference yesterday, when he told media members that he expected Giannoulias to eventually win the Democratic primary and emerge as his primary opponent for the Illinois Senate seat.